Officials are looking at a number of anomalies created by the existing system of targets which are set to meet the requirements of differing legislation. These include: whether home composting should be allowed to count towards recycling targets; the targeting of packaging waste by industry, such as plastic bottles, does not always fit in with local authority weight based targets; and that Best Value Performance Indicators measure tonnages collected so that central composting schemes can increase overall weight of waste generated.
New approach
Confirmation that DEFRA is looking at a new approach to targets has come from John Burns, head of DEFRA's Waste Improvement Programme. Speaking at a recent recycling seminar run by the Environmental Services
”We know that some targets contradict each other“
– John Burns, Waste Improvement Programme Association, he said: “I can’t deny an increase in home composting makes it more difficult for local authorities to meet their targets. They are not self reinforcing – we know that some targets contradict each other. We are working within DEFRA and other government departments on this.”
Mr Burns added: “Yes, we are aware of anomalies and we are doing our best in the longer term to see that these targets are less contradictory – 'watch this space'.”
Concerns have been voiced by many local authorities and the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee. Speaking at the seminar. Geoff Davies, team leader enforcement and recycling for Swindon borough council commented that work by the Waste and Resources Action Programme to provide home composting bins would cause difficulties. “You (WRAP) will be arranging home compost bins for residents. This is a paradox, if they use them then it will make it harder for us to meet the targets”.
Similar sentiment was voiced by Councillor Keith Chesterton of Guildford borough council who urged the government to include home composting in the achievement of targets. “We have launched a garden waste collection services which is proving very popular. We have decided to change from a free to a pay service and we are going to go for the targets. But, we have a lot of residents who do home composting and I don't know why the government doesn’t include home composting.”
Packaging
Andy Doran, chair of LARAC, told letsrecycle.com that his organisation had been asking for changes for some time and said that there were a number of difficulties within the current set of targets. “We have commercial and industrial waste that is packaging on one track while we are after the heavy materials. This approach doesn't allow us to integrate schemes as we would wish to do. It would be good if there was more scope within the targets and then we could have more local working together.”
”There are different targets that the Landfill Directive is after “
– Marek Gordon – SITA corporate development director
Mr Doran said that the situation with composting was another big issue. “There is a perverse target with the Best Value Performance Indicators. In one sweep with green waste collections you are doing very well centrally but your per household volume goes up.”
And, the waste management sector is also wrestling with conflicting targets. SITA corporate development director Marek Gordon told the seminar: “The type of waste is the key issue when we think of the recycling that we are going to target. If we are tasked with the 25% recycling target then we will target what is heavy and what is dense.”
Dense material
He explained that in the typical waste bin make up, paper and card is a dense material along with glass and ferrous materials. “These are the materials for Waste Strategy 2000,” said Mr Gordon. “But there are different targets that the landfill directive is after. “It is targeting the 'rotters' – putrescibles, paper and card.”
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